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The revolution of Syria is one of the most shocking turn of events in the early 21st century.

The people of Syria were bold enough to start demonstrations in the year 2011 against their Alawite Shi’a sect dictatorship – the Assad regime which stems all the way back to the early 1960s (starting with Hafiz Assad and now Bashar al Assad). The people of Syria had been dominated by tyrants and secret police (Shabiha – meaning ‘ghosts’), wherein over half the population were spies for the dictatorship (most out of fear for their own safety). If any person was even slightly suspected of being revolutionary, ‘extra’ religious or anti-Assad, their entire family would be raped, imprisoned, tortured, cut up (literally) and killed. This dictatorship and fear lasts and is still running for around 50years (1963- 2012+). Tens of thousands of Syrians were and are now being raped and killed by these (Alawite shi’a) dictators who considered the majority of the Syrian (Sunni) population their enemies.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“When the people of Sham (Syria, Jordan, Palestine) become corrupt then there will be no good in you. And there will not cease to be a group from my Ummah [nation] being helped; those that oppose them will not harm them, until the hour is established.” (Tirmidhi 2/30 – Authentic)

Similarly, when the people of Syria become good, the rest of the Muslim world will become good, successful and prosperous.

Since the Zionist and western powers had verbally supported Egypt’s transition from a Hosni Mubarak dictatorship (ruling for 20+ years) to a democracy in late 2010-11 because of the Egyptian revolution, it would be hypocritical of them to support the dictator Bashar al Assad. As a result, they stayed neutral to the oppressed revolutionaries of Syria, probably hoping that that the Bashar al Assad regime (which was guarding the Zionist Israel state from Islamists) would quash the revolution.

The Armed Syrian Revolution:

The peaceful Syrian demonstrators started to get shot at by the Shabiha (secret police of Syria) and they would ask the world community for help. But no world power helped them. Gradually some low ranked Syrian soldiers (majority being Sunnis) deserted from the army, giving rise to militias who would defend the Sunni majority population. Now the revolution was armed and becoming increasingly a religious war, the militias began to increase in number. (picture below: rebels praying in congregation).

The beginning of AQ in the Syrian revolution (2011- 12):

A suspected Syrian AQ affiliate called Jubhat al Nusra (which survived in Syria as a proxy like AQI in Iraq during the era of Saddam) turned its back to the Syrian regime.

Jubhat al Nusra began to support the Syrian revolutionaries since they were Sunnis like them (note:

Salafis are Sunnis in that they follow the same Prophetic teachings unlike the Shi’a.)

The revolutionaries found light weaponry from deserted Syrian soldiers, as well as bribing Syrian soldiers with money to sell them weapons. Jubhat al Nusra was able to smuggle better weapons and expert bomb makers in from neighboring Iraq (since the Islamic State of Iraq was associated with them in ideology). This allowed the newly formed militias (the Free Syrian Army [FSA]) to grow and gain major successes . As I write this now (November 2012), there is a balance in territory between the revolutionaries and the Syrian dictatorship.

When it became inevitable (mid 2012) to Western powers that the Assad regime would not survive in the long run, they decided to support the Syrian revolution in words only – to gain influence over them, and to ensure that the end results of the revolution was a democratic state which is in accordance with Western interests (the Arab people consider this hypocritical since no western power criticized the 50 year old Assad regime as a dictatorship or undemocratic or against human rights against the Sunni population, and now they are criticizing the Islamist revolutionaries for wanting to rule according to the what they spilt their blood for). Continue reading →

“Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against those disbelievers), who are fighting them, (and) because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory.” [(22): 39)] Continue reading →

This booklet presents a number of supplications and shows how a Muslim can treat himself with verses From the Qur’an and from the Prophetic supplications (ruqyah) against some diseases, sorcery, the evil eye, and other ailments. Continue reading →

A few people stand in the face of tyranny with endurance when they believe in the true and eternal message of Islam. This book sheds light on the life and struggle of the greatest example of endurance. Bilal bin Rabah whom Islam changed from a weak slave to a great hero, stood firm in the face of oppression and hence taught generations to come how a Muslim should act when his Faith is challenged. He was the only Mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer) during the lifetime of the Prophet*. His emblem all his life was `Allah is One, Allah is One.’

This erudite scholar was born in England and has gained licenses to teach (ijaazas) in many Islamic sciences including Qur’an, Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Traditions (Hadith) of The Prophet (SAW) from various Shyukh.

Following the completion of his secular studies at the age of 16, he enrolled at Dar al-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya, Bury (a satellite college to al- Azhar University), where he initiated his studies of the Alimiya course. Thereafter, he studied 3 years in the presitigious seat of learning al-Jamia al- Islamiyya Karachi, Pakistan. Continue reading →

The author said in his introduction, “There are hundreds of benefits associated with Dhikr, the act of rehearsing and celebrating the praises of Allah. The well-known medieval scholar Ibn Al-Qaiyim mentioned more than seventy of these in his book Kitabul-Adhkar. Among the benefits he mentioned were that Dhikr drives away Satan, pleases Allah, the Merciful, and replaces pain and sorrow of the heart with peace happiness and contentment.” Continue reading →

This book contains a collection of letters demonstrating a side of the personality of Shaykul-Islaam ibn Taymeeyah which is not commonly recognized. Usually, it is his tough and uncompromising stances and his truthful, sometimes harsh retorts that are remembered. However, as this work demonstrates he was also a concerned son, a devoted teacher and a passionate defender of the religion. These letters were selected and introduced by Shaykul Muhammad Sulaiman al-Abdah.Born in Syria in 1941, and now residing in London, he has taught in the religious institutes and the Islaamic University of Madeenah. He now devotes his time to work in Islamic Da’wah.

All praises are due to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for (His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evil in our souls and from our sinful deeds. W’hoever Allaah guides, no one can misguide. And whoever Allaah misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allaah. And I bear witness that Muhammad (SAAS) is His servant and messenger.

In their search for worthy examples, people tend to look to the past, hoping to resurrect the legacy of those great and honourable men who contributed greatly to the Ummah through their knowledge, wisdom, and courage. It is said that the people agonise when they find no one of significance to look up to. Fortuitously, society does not solely consist of the living, but also the dead. The greatest of the dead are still alive amongst us.

One of those unique men in lslaamic heritage was the dignified Scholar and valiant Mujaahid: Ahmad bin ‘Abdul-Haleem bin Taymeeyah. He was one of the most eloquent and truthful men in analysing the lslaamic mentality and methodology. Yet when we return to the lslaamic heritage, we should not be solely and sentimentally attached to the past, without it materializing and forming the basis and drive for our present and future. This is what we hope to achieve in this book.

Much of the heritage of Shaykh ul-lslaam IbnTaymeeyah has been published; yet it is still worth appreciating the age in which he lived and some of the features that it enjoyed, and crucially, the reasons behind the sending of the letters that are the subject of this book. The letters are predominantly extracted from two books: Majmoo’ ul-Fatawa, and al-‘Uqood ud-Durreeyah, and, except the letter to the Christian king, are from his time in prison.

Ibn Taymeeyah was born on 10th Rabi al-Awwal 661 AH (1263 CE) in the town of Harran in the province of Jazeerah (1). He was a descendent of a very well known and established family, characterized by excellent memories and beauty of expression. His father, the Shaykh ‘Abdul-Haleem was a scholar of hadeeth, and his grandfather was Majdudeen Abul-Barakat, the author of Muntaqa al-Akhbar (2). Says the grandson, “Our grandfather was phenomenal in memorizing hadeeth, narrating them and in knowing people’s schools of thought.”

lbn Taymeeyah was born in an age of great cultural and political upheaval. It was only five years prior to his birth that Baghdad was ravaged and mercilessly destroyed by the Tatars, and his family had to flee to Damascus when he was young. The savagery of those invaders had undoubtedly given the boy a deep hatred of oppression, and further instilled in him courage to fight the enemy.

The age of lbn Taymeeyah was also characterized by the rise of many disciplines. The underlying themes of these sciences, were their depth, breadth, and their authors’ attempts to fuse the rising sciences together. Indeed, many of the books resembled encyclopaedias. lbn Taymeeyah had benefited from such an environment, but at the same time he did not content himself to that which he was taught. Instead, he was diligent in learning but maintained an independence of thought. This meant that he was not restricted to one teacher or school of thought, and thereby he gained from all, and produced novel ideas. This search for knowledge led him to be familiar with many of his age’s cultures and creeds. He wrote extensively on beliefs, explaining the true one and rebuking those who disagreed; but tafseer (explanation of the Qur’aan) remained the subject that always captivated him. “I might read a hundred interpretations of one verse, but would still ask Allaah’s guidance in its comprehension saying, ‘Oh teacher of Aadam and lbraaheem teach me!’ I would also go to the deserted masjids and ask Allah, ‘Oh teacher of lbraaheem! Make me comprehend.'” His contemporaries were quick to recognise his merit, as al-Qadi az-Zamalkaanee gave a true description, “Just as Allaah had made iron soft for Daawood, He made sciences supple for Ibn Taymeeyah’s grasp.”

Why was Ibn Taymeeyah such a distinguished figure, one might ask. Firstly, there was his constant and unbroken bond with the masses of Muslims, for he was their teacher and mentor, he would resolve their problems and defend their rights in the face of the rulers. He would try to keep them steadfast when their enemies attacked, he would enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and most especially, he was not diverted by mundane worldly matters. Therefore, the whole of his time was devoted to attaining knowledge and participating in jihads. Indeed, it was this strong connection that made the general masses of Damascus love, respect and honour him. Even the most jealous of his enemies were not able to harm him there, but instead they had their chance in Egypt where he was not as well known.

These sincere feelings for the affairs of Muslims can be sensed when Shaykh ul-lslaam spoke regarding politics, “Civilisation is rooted in justice, and the consequences of oppression are devastating. Therefore, it is said that Allaah aids the just state even if it is non-Muslim, yet withholds His help from the oppressive state even if it is Muslim.” He also said,”There are sincere Muslims who perceive that commanding a high post (3) inevitably leads to love of rule and wealth. Some common Muslims regard the acceptor of such responsibility, as a turning away from the ‘religion of mercy and humbleness’. However, the correct attitude is that the appointment of the virtuous serves the Ummah far better than assigning posts to the wicked.” His concern was also with the public in economic problems, attacking those who establish monopolies over foodstuffs, “In times of need, the ruler can force people to sell their goods at their original value!” Continue reading →

The History of the Qur’anic Text from Revelation to Compilation : A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments

The Qur’an reigns supreme in Muslim hearts as the most sacred of texts: a profusion of exalted ideas to rouse the mind, noble histories to stir the soul, universal truths to awaken the conscience and precise injunctions directing humanity to its own deliverance, all distilled into the melodious essence that is the Word of Allah. Through fourteen centuries Muslims have persevered in championing the text against corruption, memorising its every word and contemplating its every phrase, so that in our own times untold millions have enthusiastially committed each letter to heart.

Beginning with a catalogue of ancient and contemporary attacks on the Qur’an, this expansive book provides unique insights into the holy text’s immaculate preservation throughout its history, as well as exploring many of the accusations levelled against it. The reception of divine revelations, Prophet Muhammad’s role in teaching and disseminating these verses, the text’s compilation under his guidance and the setting of its final external shape shortly after his death, are meticulously and scientifically examinded alongside such topics as the origins of Arabic, its palaeography and orthography, the so-called Mushaf of Ibn Mas’ud, and the strict methodology employed in assembling textual fragments.

By way of comparison the author investigates the histories of the Old and New Testaments, relying entirely on Judaeo-Christian sources including the Dead Sea Scrolls and uncovers a startling range of alterations that touch almost every fact of the Biblical Scriptures. Using this as a springboard for assessing Western theories regarding the Qur’an, he makes a sophisticated yet passionate case for questioning the aims of Western scholarship in continuously undermining Islam’s holy book, and illustrates convincingly that such research, motivated by more than mere curiousity, has no scientific bearing on the Qur’an’s integrity.

This monumental effort, a scholarly work composed in an impassioned tone, provides a welcome foundation for sincere study at a time when assailing the Qur’an has become all too common. Continue reading →

This book will consist of various quotations of al-Imam ‘Abdullah ‘Azzam – a man who truly deserves the title of ‘Imam,’ if anyone does. In addition to being a scholar and Mujahid, he also fulfilled the seldom-fulfilled role of being a brilliant murabbi – his immensely deep insight, coupled with his decades of experience in the fields of both Da’wah and Jihad, made him a priceless asset to the youth of his time and beyond.

So, we will present here various words of advice and stories of remembrance taken from his works – both written and recorded – so that we may benefit from his legacy, if Allah Wills. Continue reading →

Excerpts and passages collected from many books written by the scholars of the Islam have been compiled in this book. The writings will be of equal interest to all Muslims whether they are Children or Adults, and similarly they will gain a lot of virtues, develop good character patterns, and adopt intellectual behavior in their lives from the examples of the great personalities of Islam.

Publisher’s Note Darussalam is presenting Gems & Jewels for the readers. This book is based on excerpts and passages collected from many books written by the scholars of Islam. The wise sayings, interesting events, logical deductions, intelligent approaches, admonitions, moral lessons and teachings etc., have been compiled to give the readers the opportunity of knowing what the great personalities of Islam have been doing in their life and how their character has been an example for us to follow.

We hope that the presentation of Gems & Jewels will be a continuing process, and we will be compiling and publishing one volume after the other providing the readers gems and jewels from our glorious history.

The writings in this series will be of equal interest to all Muslims whether they are children or adults, and similarly they will gain a lot of virtues, develop good character patterns, and adopt intellectual behavior in their lives. Because of the usefulness of the series, we are planning to produce it in other languages also so that a majority of the Muslims may be able to benefit from it. We pray to Allah for the success. Continue reading →

The Inevitable Journey, We inevitably go through the journey starting in this life and extending into the grave, before our final abode in the hereafter. In the process, we pass through stages of sickness, death, and the intermediate life in the grave (al-Barzakh). These are the subjects that “The Inevitable Journey” discusses over a sequence of tides:

1. Sickness, Regulations & Exhortations
2. The Final Bequest, Islamic Inheritance and Will
3. Funerals, Regulations & Exhortations
4. Life in al-Barzakh
5. Dreamer’s Handbook
6. The Moment of Death
7. The Soul’s Trip to the Heavens
8. The Final Test
9. The Righteous and the Sinful in al-Barzakh
10. Saviors from the Grave’s Punishment
11. Communications with al-Barzakh
12. Things That Benefit the Dead

This book is the fourth in the series. It deals with many important matters that have always perplexed the human minds, but that, as is shown in this book, have been clearly explained in the authentic Texts from Allah’s Book and His Messenger’s Sunnah. Among the subjects covered are the following: The Moment of Death, The Soul’s Trip to the Heavens, The Final Test, The Righteous and the Sinful in al-Barzakh, Saviors from the Grave’s Punishment, Communications with al-Barzakh and Things That Benefit the Dead. Continue reading →